Draw-bolt.



J. W. MARTIN.

DRAW BOLT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 20. 1915.

Patented Ja11.'25, 1916.

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JOHN W. MARTIN, OFLAKE PLACID, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-TENTH T0 EDWIN H. FORD, OF LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK.

DRAW-BOLT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1216..

Application filed March 20, 1915. Serial No. 15,868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Placid, in the'county of Essex and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Draw- Bolts, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompany- My present invention relatesto new and useful improvements in draw bolts or hooks of the type employed in connecting the harness traces to the swingletree of a wagon, sled or any other vehicle.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a draft device of this character in which the hookportion is partially constituted by a pivoted bill adapted to be released when desired so that it may swing into inoperative position along the traces to readily strip from the draw bolt.

Another object is to equip the body of the draw bolt with a swingingly mounted latch member which is normally positioned to hold the pivoted bill member in closed position and which is adapted to be easily released from engagement therewith by being swung transversely with respect to the bill.

The above andother incidental objects of a similar nature which will be hereinafter more specifically treated, are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

With reference to the drawings, wherein there has been illustrated the preferred embodiment of this invention as it is reduced to practice, and throughout the several views of which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pair of draw bolts or hooks applied to a swingletree. Fig. 2 is a detail view in side elevation of one of the hooks. Fig.3 is a section on the line 33, of Fig. 2. Fig. l is an end view of the hook, looking at the bill end thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the manner in which the latch is normally held in looking position; and Fig. 6 is a detail view in top plan of the latch showing the same in open position.

As best shown in Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings my draw bolt includes a rod-like body. portion 10, the one terminal of which is bent to form an eye 11 and the other terminalof which is bent to produce an arcuate stub 12. The eye 11 is adapted to'beconnected to the swingletree by being engaged with the hook thereof, as shown in Fig. 1. The outer end of the arcuate stub is bifurcated as indicated at 13, producing the spaced cars 14%. Between these ears is pivotally mounted, on a pivot bolt or pin 15, an arcuate extension 16 which projects from one end of the bill member 17. It will be seen that the bill member when in closed position, as in Fig. 2, defines in connection with the stub, a hook of conventional design and thatthis hook may be employed in the usual manner in connecting the end of the trace to the swingletree. The free end of the hook is bent to form a flat straight lug 18 which extends when the bill is in closed position, insubstantially parallel relation to the body portion 10. The outer face of the lug is provided with a longitudinally extending groove or notch19, wherein a longitudinal rib 20 formed on the latch 21 is adapted to seat when the bill is in closed position. This latch member 21 is formed from a single length of rod steel, the one terminal of which is secured to the body member 10, adjacent the rear terminal thereof, by a pivot bolt 22. The rod flatly engages the member 10, immediately adjacent its pivotal point but, for the major portion of its length extends outwardly at an acute angle to the member 10. The outer terminal of the rod is directed away from the member 10, as indicated at 23 and then forwardly and at right angles, as at 24, thus producing an L-shaped extension or arm. The lug 20, as will be seen upon reference to Fig. 3, is formed on the inner face of the portion 2 1. On the outer face of the come apparent that it is necessary to provide a means whereby the latch rod may be this notch 28, the rib 29 formed on the outer side of the rod 21 is adapted to seat. The yoke is supported in proper position by a post 30, the terminal of which is reduced and passed through the *body' member 10. This reduced position of the post is headed, as at 31. The normal tendency M able force is exerted to swing the rod.

ofthe latch rod to spring away from the body member 10 insures the retention of the rib 29 in the notch 28, unless a consider- From the foregoing description the manner in which the draw bolt is employed in attaching the trace to the swingletree, will now be'apparent. It will be seen that when the trace is to be connected to'the draw bolt, it is only necessary to-exert suflicient pressure on the latch rod and swing this member transversely with respect to the bill member soas to disengage the Lshaped finger from the lug 19. After the latch rod 7 has beenthus moved into inoperative position, the bill may be swung forwardly into open position in the manner shown in dotted linesin Fig. 2 and the ring at the terminal of the trace then applied. The bill may then be swung back to closed position as in Fig. 2. and secured by moving the latch rod back into engagement with the lug l8.

- It is desired to direct particular attention to the fact that the present draw bolt is. particularly 'efiective in case of accident, for

the driver may, by the use of his foot, disengage the latch rod from the bills The movement of the latch rod into inoperative position will, of course, permit the trace rings to slide off the draw bolt. The pull exerted by the trace rings, of course, normally tends to swing the bill into open position.' The present draw bolt is also found to be particularly convenient when the draft animals are in harness and it is desired to release the traces from the swingletree. In many instances, the traces are held so taut by the animals that it requires considerable "manual eifort to pull the trace rings back a sufiieient distance to release them from the swingletree hooks. By using the present draw bolt, however, the trace rings may be readily released by the mere swinging of the latch rod 21. I have illustrated and described my hoo as being particularly adapted for use in attaching a traceto a swingletree, but desire it understood that the hook may be employed 1 in connection with the doubletree,'an evener or any other draft attachment for a vehicle. I desire it further understood that the hook may not only be employed in connection with harness, but may also be employed in be applied to.

In reduction to practice, it has been found that the form of this invention illustrated in the drawings, and referred to in the above description as the preferred embodiment is the most etlicient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with the adoption of this device will necessarily vary, it is desirable to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in the details of con struction, proportion arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention, as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. A device of the character described ineluding a shank, a bill pivoted thereto, a latch member pivotally attached to the shank, the free end of the latch member being engageable with the free end of the bill for maintaining the same in closed position, and being movable transversely with respect to the bill for releasing the same,

and means for yieldably holding the latch in engagement with the bill.

2. A device of the character described includin a shank, a bill pivoted thereto, a lug extending from the free end of the bill, said lug being disposed in parallel spaced relation to the shank when the bill is in closed position, a latch movably attached to the shank and having an L-shaped extension formed on its free terminal, said extension being engageable with the lug of the bill for holding the bill against swinging movement when in closed position, and means for normally holding the latch in locking engagement with the lug of the bill.

3. A device of the character described 111- cluding a shank, a bill pivoted thereto, a lug extending from the free end of the bill, said lug being disposed in parallel spaced relation to the shank when the bill is in closed position, a latch movably attached to the shank and having an L-shaped extension formed on its free terminal, said extension' being engageable with the lug of the bill for holding the bill against swinging movement when in closed position, and fixed means for normally holding the latch in locking engagement with the lug of the bill.

4. A device of the character described including a shank, a bill pivoted thereto, a latch pivoted to the shank and engageable with the bill for normally holding the same in closed position, and means for yieldably holding the latch in locking position, said means including a substantially rectangular resilient frame attached to the shank and arranged in spaced relation thereto, said frame being disposed to receive the latch member and being adapted to limit the swinging movement thereof.

5. A device of the character described including a shank, a bill pivoted thereto, a latch pivoted to the shank, and engageable With the bill for normally holding the same in closed position, a rib formed on the latch intermediate the length thereof, and means engageable by the rib for yieldably main 7 taining the latch in locking relation to the bill, said means including a substantially rectangular resilient frame attached to the shank, the latch being projected through the frame and being adapted to swing therethrough, onemember of the frame being provided With a notch adapted to receive the rib of the latch for yieldably maintaining the latch in looking position.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN W. MARTIN. Witnesses:

EDWIN H. F0111), PHELPS MARTIN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

